The Basics Of Maintenance HELP

I am getting close to my goal and realized that the last 9 months have been such a one tract way of thinking...ie. ALL ABOUT LOSING... it feels weird to think about slowing it down and stopping. Even more strange, the thoughts of what would be too skinny??

Along this line of thoughts ... can someone give me a brief synopsis of how to enter maintenance ? A general outline of what worked for you would be great.

Do you start 10 # out because you will likely not stop losing right away... or do you get to goal or even, below because you may gain a bit ?

Can you even get to goal when there is likely 10# of skin that needs to go with plastics next year ?

All input is appreciated :)

I did not increase calories until I got to my goal weight. I found the last 11 pounds to be quite a push and really had to work at losing them. Increasing calories would not have worked for me. I increased protein and lowered my carbs to lose those last pounds! I personally had no trouble stopping losing weight.

Now that I'm in maintenance I track diligently each day to find my maintenance range. It's tricky and depends on how much I'm exercising. Right now it seems that I maintain on about 1500 calories without exercise and about 2000 with exercise.

Not a lot of info, but that's what I can give you.

I did not start trying to maintain until I hit goal.

I find that maintenance plays with my head a little more than weight loss did.  I decided to up my support group attendance and start private therapy at the same time to help with that.

As for the extra skin - I wouldn't take that into account.  You need to listen to your body - it will tell you when you are done losing.  The last few pounds will be a push - that seems to be a constant for everybody.  

Thanks guys :) I am still eating 600-700 cal, 75-90 protein and under 30 carbs. When the time comes, do you recommend upping the total calories with the same relative ratios... or up the carbs alone? Do you do 100 ca more every couple weeks or something different ?

I upped total calories and tried to keep the ratios the same.  It can be challenging and I am not doing the best job keeping carbs low while trying to get the calories up.  

I upped 200 calories every other week.  I should probably have been more aggressive.  I should probably be eating more than I do now as well. I would say don't be too conservative.  I lost 5 lbs in the last week!

I see that you've lost 75lbs and highest weight was 238.  Although we are all different i will say that it is unlikely that you have 10lbs of skin.  My plastic surgeon says that everyone images they have a ton of skin when they are looking at it on their body but unless they were truly morbidly obese 10lb is a huge number. 

I had a breast lift tummy tuck, thigh lift etc and there was 2lb.  So I'd say don't count on what your skin may weigh and just concentrate on the last lbs. 

There are those on here who lost when they upped their calories for maintenance. There are also those who stopped losing. For most the last pounds were excruciating and they lowered intake and just barreled through.  Choose your poison I guess.

Indeed ... I suppose 10# was not a realistic guess... but I have never had plastic surgery or a consult... so I had no idea. Thanks.

I'd have to agree with Edelu, I prob have about 7lbs max spread out from belly, thighs, arms & breasts.. and it's a lot of skin hanging on me, but in reality- doesn't really weigh much as it's mostly empty thin skin at this point... I've also been in excess of 300lbs for a good part of my life.. and am now 136 & change..

I did not start upping cals (from the 800 range) till just recently, and had hit a normal BMI at 156-157 lbs, and my original goal of 155 back in April.. I'm 20 lbs under that now.. but well within a normal range for my height & frame.

I upped it recently  to 1000 from 900 (weekly average is higher as I have an off plan meal or two a week, but my "setting" goals are those numbers.) I thought I'd have a struggle getting off that last few, but for me all it seems to have taken was adding in a bit of heavy weight lifting to stoke up things significantly, and the weight has fallen off in the last month.. I'm trying to hold steady and up it about 100 cal a week as I really don't think I should be losing as much as fast as I am right now, but I am not hitting the panic button just yet, though I don't want to dip much below 130 I don't think.. 

I personally wouldn't change intake unless: a. you are happy where you are, as the dialing in period will prob bring a little more loss.. or b. you change your routine and your body shows you that it needs more fuel.

Edited to add: I am upping cals mostly through healthy fats, trying to keep carbs on the low side and will try to avoid starches in any form and grains save for rare treats as I know what they do to me and my body.. For me, eating low carb is much more satisfying.. so adding back more veggies, fiber and some berries and fruit on occasion, and focusing on fat from things like nuts, seeds, coconut oil, avocado and the like are the way I'm choosing to eat while avoiding pastas, potatoes, grains and sugar in almost any form. 

In losing, I was at 20 total carbs, bumped up to 30 something at 900 cals, now I have it set at 50 at 1000, but 20 a day is fiber for me.. still playing science experiment to see what it takes to reach a balance.. this is all new territory as I've never been this focused in my fueling before.. so nothing I say is proven out yet..

 Thanks again to all for the great input  

 It's normal to worry about getting too skinny.... but for me it was very short period of time....because I realized that it was also easy to gain back....I dropped under goal pretty effortlessly, got to a low of 130 lbs, felt a bit gaunt, wondered if I'd waste away...LOL...then over the next few months, I bounced back up a few lbs...and started to freak out...as worrisome as the lower weight was, it was scarier as it crept back up...even though I'm still under my original goal weight of 140....

Now I'm maintaining consistently from about 133-136....it varies day to day, but I really hate now when it goes over 135...and my plan is to be a little stricter than I've been lately...so that I stay in the low 130's...

I really don't track my food much, but when I have, it seems I maintain on about 1800 cals...I know I was losing when at about 1000 cals....and I would still be losing if I was doing all the exercise I was doing during the WL phase...but I have cut way back from 5 days a week, then to 2 days...lately I've been bad and only 1 day a week...but I want to continue w/ 2 days.

I really have just followed my hunger cues.....and rule of protein first....and no drinking during meals...so maintenance has just been like Weight Loss, except for less exercise and slightly bigger portions and a little more frequent snack/meals....I eat a lot of soft proteins like eggs, cheese, yogurt and healthy fats like nuts...I also eat a lot of turkey, steak, and  lean ground beef.

I think I realistically have about 4-5 lbs of skin combined, no more than that....It's loose and saggy in several places, but I don't have any large amount in one spot that would weigh anything significant...